Let me in or I'll poop

[luzmery928]

O.k so our little champ has a problem that if we lock him out of a room, he will poop and pee until we come out or let him in. This morning I went to do my daughter's hair in her room (he's not allowed in there since he is like the tazmanian devil in there) and he cried and scratched on the door and when I came out sure enough poop all over the living room floor. By the way, my husband had just brought him in from his morning walk. This happens all the time when he is left alone..any suggestions? We need help with my little champ

[gbroxon]

He gets anxious when he can't get to you. The anxiety causes stomach upset, so he poops/pees to relieve it.

Have you tried distracting him with something (like a filled kong, maybe, or an interactive toy or something yummy to chew on)? Something to keep him busy while you're out of his sight? This might manage his behavior.

To try to eliminate the behavior, though, it sounds like he might need some behavior modification in this area. Maybe something like shutting yourself out of sight for a few seconds at a time, then a half a minute, then a minute, then two minutes, you get the idea. Keep your leaving and coming back low key, until he gets the idea that yes, you leave, but yes, you come back.

Crating him for these periods may also be a management option.

BTW, the title of your thread made me LOL. I know it's not a funny situation, but I couldn't help myself!

[luzmery928]

OMG I can't believe this might me an emotional issue our poor baby. We were thinking he was doing it out of spite. We will try working with him by distracting him and buying him those interactive toys. Thank you so much for you advise, and yes well when we tell our stories to our family/friends they also get a kick out of his temper tamtrums.

[spitfirekrl1]

Not that I know a whole lot about this but it definately sounded like a seperation anxiety issue to me as well. There are many different methods I have seen on the internet. You may want to check all of them out and see which one works. In most of them distracting them, leaving for short periods of time (ignoring them when you come back in so they get that it's not a big deal you left in the first place) and crating seem to be the most effective methods.

[jessi76]

@luzmery928:

We were thinking he was doing it out of spite.

dogs do not know "spite", it's a human emotion.

the advice given by gbroxon is EXACTLY what I'd do too.

[luzmery928]

Great since once again it's good to hear that our champ is not a problem child. As a matter of fact today we went on a car ride with him and when one of us would get out of the car, he would let out some gas and now we are thinking that he might be dealing with some anxiety (our poor baby) but we will work on this issue and use your advise. About crate training though..I always used to think this was kind of harsh but now I'm considering it since I just don't want my house to smell like champs private bathroom (wood floors are hard to clean and then we all just end up sliding everywhere) can I use the crate as a time out when he misbehaves as when he bites and poops. I'd hate to have to leave him closed in the entire day.

[gbroxon]

To my way of thinking, a dog should consider their crate their own little safe space, so I wouldn't use it as a time-out place. JMO.

[luzmery928]

Yeah that what also a thought but since he is so used to being left out I'm afraid that although it might fix one issue, it might cause him other anxiety problems. All way I guess we'll just have to continue with the potty training using the wee wee pads and hope he starts learning to hold it in until we take him it. Accidents will happen I'm sure..hey Rome wasn't build in a day right

[alkite]

I wouldn't think of crate training as harsh. Both of my dogs stay in their crates during the day while my DH and I work. It is safer for them and for the house. In fact, we got Giz at the age of 3 and still managed to get him used to the crate in a few months. It took some persistance, but it works well for our schedules and for the dogs too.

[jys1011]

I love the idea of crates…gives them a safe place when they're stressed & keeps them out of trouble & my house in tact!

As a matter of fact they love it...they eat there...they get treats there...they rest there...they hide the toys they love in there!!

We were home this weekend (more than usual) during the day & seemed like TOPAZ was just restless. She couldn't settle down, couldn't get comfy even tho she LOVES being on the couch every night with us. She kept going in & out of her crate...finally it dawned on me that she WANTED to be crated. That's where she sleeps during the day all week so it was like she was stressed because she wasn't sure why she was out so long.

So I crated her & closed the door & she fell right to sleep for about 4 hours :eek: lol lol...my girl needs structure!

[gbroxon]

I'm sorry. When I responded about the crate being "their own little safe space," I wasn't thinking of crate training, per se, but the idea of using the crate as a time-out place for misbehavior, i.e., biting. I should have been more clear.

Crate training is a great thing when done properly! I just don't think a crate should be used as a punishment, that's all.

Being it seems your dog is experiencing anxiety-induced pooping because he can't get to you, I wouldn't put him in the crate after he poops, as a punishment. You might try putting him into the crate before you separate from him (maybe with something good to gnaw on?) to see if it keeps him poop-free while you're separated from each other.

[spitfirekrl1]

I've found that Alani too enjoys being in there and sometimes prefers to take naps in her crate rather than on the couch with us. She will go in her crate willingly in the mornings before I go to work and will lay down and start chewing on her nylabone. Dogs are naturally den animals and so they find comfort in in them.

Below is a link that is very helpful in the why's, why nots, dos and don'ts of crate training. Most of the websites out there say the same thing, I just liked this one the best.

http://www.siriusweb.com/AAD/crate.html

They all state that you want to create a happy place for them to go so you wouldn't want to have them associating it with punishment.

[luzmery928]

Sounds good. We're gonna look into that. She was in a crate while in her foster home and according to his foster mommy, he liked it. O.k thanks for the pros on crate training will keep you posted.

[luzmery928]

Well this morning I went into the bathroom with my daughter and left him alone for a while..he was busy with a bone so he didn't seem to mind and no mess…We are so proud. although he is still pooping when we leave but he does do it on the wee wee pads (O.k so he misses). I tried walking out of the house and coming in after about 1min. I hope this is a step forward. He did love that bone though, he even went into the bedroom alone to chew on it. He always used to stay in whatever room we were in and this morning before I left for work he was playing with his ball.

[gbroxon]

Keep up the good work! It may take awhile, but it sounds like you're off to a good start!

[luzmery928]

one day at a time but at least today started out good

[jys1011]

YAY you go little B

[luzmery928]

Yes well like I said one day at at time because yesturday was a different story. My daughter came home from school and as usual he had peeped and pooped but on the wee wee pads, no big deal we are used to that. But then he started nipping my daughter pretty hard, she almost cried so she went into her room. When I got home this little brat had pooped in the living room and peeded in the hallway right in front of my daughter's room. AGHHHHH!!!! I was so upset. Anyway I took Champ to the park and met up with some owners and I wanted to get input on the crate thing. See the thing is that we like Champ to walk around the house sit with us on the couch and sleep in his bed next to us and this seems to have to change if we start crate training him. I just want him to stop pooping and peeing inside the house. He only does this when he's alone. He hasn't had any accidents while we are home for a few days. My other concern is the nipping. I swear we have tried all your suggestions, but nothing works. Wait the walking worked because after we came back from our 1 1/2 hour park trip he was such a little angel. Anyway I got the crate suggestion but was told he had to sleep in there which I don't like (will he?)and then I was told to punish when he did his messes by rubing his nose on the pee and then isolated him from the family. This used to work with my toy poodle, but he was pretty much trained and not so hyper. The trainer is coming this Sat. so I'm sure he will help with the nipping and he already mentioned the crate…I need some feedback please my mind is running in circles with this whole crate, potty business.

[jys1011]

punish when he did his messes by rubing his nose on the pee and then isolated him from the family. This used to work with my toy poodle, but he was pretty much trained and not so hyper.

I'm not sure who shared this information with you but IMO it's terribly wrong & may actually make things worse. This will scare the little guy & somtimes the smells stays on their nose if done harshly & they'll pee ALLLLL over the place :eek: I'm sure you don't want that. Try to get into the mind set that dogs will want to do things that make him feel good. If I don't nip…I get a FABULOUS treat If I don't pee I get such wonderful praises AND a FABULOUS treat.

With the nipping try what they call "replacing the behavior" so when he starts to nip give him something to do IMMEDIATELY (and timing is everything with this exercise) that he can't possibly nip & do the new behavior at the same time...for example..Step 1-nips=chew toy IMMEDIATELY Step 2-if he gets distracted with the chew toy then you treat him with some yummy food & good praises!! Using a nice happy voice!!

Andrea once used this analogy that has stuck with me....if they had a law that all those that DON'T speed get a new car wouldn't you NOT speed well same idea with dogs.

With the peeing around the house you may need to keep the little guy on a leash meaning with you at ALLLL times. Tie the leash around your waist so you can watch his every move...if starts looking like he's going to pee (and you MUST watch & learn the signs because there aremany) you pick him up quickly saying "Potty Potty Potty" and take him outside or wherever you want him to pee. If you can't keep an eye on him then he belongs in his crate with the most delicious treat possible or a fun chew toy!

I can't emphasize enough that you need to do these exercises every single time every single day...it does work but the commitment needs to be there.

We have some issues with other dogs & I've been teaching "Watch" to my dogs for what seems like forever!!! :eek: and it's taken them about 3 months to figure it out...but it's every day & the precise time.

[luzmery928]

Can I potty train him with the crate when we are not home but give him free use of the house when we are, including letting him sleep during the night out of his crate? This is the only reason y we have not crated him. O.k about the nipping thing, we are all going to have to strap ourselves like cowboys to a chewing toy and maybe a squirt water bottle for back up.